Stories filled with love, drama and mystery have always drawn us in. In narrative paintings, artists use characters and details to tell stories that can make us feel, think or laugh.

Join Linda Yang for Up close: Love and drama, a one-hour Gallery Members session in the Salon-style exhibition Threads of Time: Travel, Trade & Textiles. Look closely at paintings, talk about what might be happening in them, and discover the hidden meanings and symbols within each scene.

Playful drawing activities will help you notice new details and build your confidence in looking at art. Pencils and paper are provided, or bring your own sketchbook.

Sessions

Choose from one of six dates. Each session covers the same content and is limited to 12 people. Members with a guest pass can book an additonal spot for a friend.

Sessions take place every Wednesday from 14 October to 18 November. 

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This workshop is open to Members only. Become a Gallery Member today to enjoy this event and many more benefits.

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Step into Threads of Time: Travel, Trade & Textiles, a jewel-box display in the historic Mackelvie Gallery exploring European art from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Bringing together recent acquisitions, generous donations and much-loved works from the permanent collection, the exhibition features paintings, sculptures and works on paper, including pieces returning to display after several years.

Across five richly layered, salon-style groupings, discover how fabric carries meaning beyond decoration. Textiles reveal stories of travel, trade, technology and craftsmanship, while also expressing social status, personal taste, faith and identity. From luxurious garments to the canvas beneath layers of paint and varnish, each work offers a window into the relationships between artists, patrons and the cultures of their time.

Viewed through this social and historical lens, Threads of Time invites you to consider how fashion, art and identity have long been closely interwoven.